‌Chapter 4: "Care to See Proof?"

Iron and concrete debris exploded into the air. Ye Chenghuan wrinkled his nose, plucked a stack of cash from the shattered safe, counted it, then tossed the rest back inside. He slapped the dust off his tank top, straightened his clothes, and said to the stunned boss, "This month's salary—not a penny more, not a penny less."

In a blink, he stood before Director Qi, his voice devoid of emotion: "You didn't fire me. I quit. Got it?"

Qi nodded dumbly.

"And one more thing..." Ye snatched the pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from the desk and stuffed it into his pocket. "I'm a security guard, not a worthless security guard. Respect is earned, not handed out. You've failed spectacularly at that. Consider these cigarettes your tuition fee." He lit one, blew smoke into the hazy office, and left without looking back.

Director Qi finally exhaled, muttering, "Is that guy even human?"

Ye stepped into the elevator, watching the floor numbers flicker. Another job gone. How long till the next one? He hated trouble, yet trouble clung to him like a shadow. The doors opened to a swarm of officers.

"District police. You're accused of public disruption and robbery. Come with us."

Ye forced a grin. "Must be a case of mistaken identity, officers."

"Shut up and move!"

At the station, a young woman in a三级警监 uniform listened to the report, her jade-like fingers tightening around a pen. Her short hair framed a face too youthful for her rank, yet her eyes held the sharpness of a blade. The beauty mark at her lips added an unsettling allure.

"Bring it in," she ordered.

Two officers hauled in the mangled safe—concrete splintered, steel peeled back like tinfoil. She circled the wreckage, her delicate brows furrowing. "You're certain?"

"Absolutely, Chief Wu."

"Take him to Interrogation Room 1. And fetch his file."

The room reeked of stale sweat and authority. Ye fidgeted in handcuffs. "Can we speed this up, comrades? Do you serve lunch here?"

"Quiet!" snapped the male officer.

Ye lit a cigarette.

"Extinguish that!" barked the female officer.

He took two defiant drags before stubbing it out, replacing it with a matchstick. "What's the holdup? I'll confess to anything."

"Chief Wu decides when we're done," she retorted.

The door swung open. A woman in a fitted uniform strode in, her presence slicing through the tension. Officers saluted; she waved them out.

"Chief Wu Xiao," she said, adjusting her cap. "武 as in martial arts, 潇 as in relentless rain."

Ye's eyebrows shot up. A police chief who looks like a porcelain doll? He saluted. "Chief!"

Wu's smile vanished as the door clanged shut. "You dislike my rules?"

"Rules? Brilliant! Criminals deserve no mercy," Ye said, though his roaming eyes betrayed him.

Wu's cheeks flushed. "Explain yourself."

Ye grinned. "The boss owed me wages. I merely collected. Isn't protecting workers' rights a government priority? Besides, we're practically colleagues—you uphold law, I guard peace. Cut me some slack?"

"Colleagues? Delusional."

"Security guards and cops—two sides of the same badge."

Wu smirked. "Silver tongue."

"Flattery won't get you far. Can I leave now?"

"Sit!" Her voice turned glacial. "You think sweet talk absolves smashing a safe with your fists?"

Ye slumped. "Let's get this over with."

"Name."

"Ye Chenghuan."

"Gender."

"Want me to prove it?" he sneered.

"By all means," she said coolly.

He groaned. "No wonder you're chief at your age."

Her lips curved, revealing pearly canines. "The safe. Did you truly punch through it?"

"Absurd! If I could, I'd be a demolitionist, not a guard."

"Then I'll charge you with illegal explosives. Ten years in prison—sound fun?"

Ye paled. "No grudge between us, Chief. Must you bury me?"

"Prove it wasn't explosives."

"How? By proving I'm a man? That's easy—"

Wu stood, removed her cap and uniform, revealing Kevlar armor. "Hit me. Full force."

"You're insane! That punch could—"

"It withstands bullets. Unless your fist outmatches a sniper round."

Ye hesitated. Beneath her calm, he sensed a storm—a woman hellbent on conquering limits.

"Don't worry," she taunted. "No guts, no freedom."

He unlocked his cuffs, cracked his knuckles. "Last chance to back out."

"Now."

His playful gaze vanished. The air chilled. Wu's breath hitched as his pupils contracted into icy pins—a predator's stare.

Then it faded.

He touched her cheek gently, re-cuffed himself, and sat.

The safe's crumpled steel suddenly made sense.

Wu trembled, not from fear, but exhilaration. She traced the dent in her armor—a crater shaped by a force that chose restraint over ruin.

"Go," she whispered.

Ye paused at the door. "Next time, skip the armor. It wrinkles your shirt."

Alone, Wu Xiao pressed a hand to her racing heart. What are you, Ye Chenghuan?